EastEnders is filmed at Borehamwood in Hertfordshire, towards the north-west of London. Much of the location work is filmed in nearby Watford. It has been suggested that Watford was chosen for much of the exterior scenes due to its close proximity, and that the town name is so similar to Walford. Thus, any stray road signs or advertising boards which are accidentally filmed in the back of shots will appear to read Walford. Locations used in Watford include most interior and exterior church scenes of various churches, the snooker club, the County Court and Magistrates' Courts courtrooms, and the cemetery (where most of the deceased characters are interred).

Albert Square, also known as 'The Square', is where the majority of the original characters and a large number of the current characters reside. In its fictional history, it was built towards the end of the Victorian era, and named after the then recently deceased Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. At the centre of the square is a garden, containing within it Arthur Fowler's bench, regularly known as 'The Bench of Tears', and one corner is taken up by The Queen Victoria Public House,[7] named after Victoria. There is a B&B, owned by the Butchers, and later by Patrick Trueman and his wife Yolande Trueman. It is later run by Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) and becomes 'Kim's Palace'. It experienced a severe fire in late 2012 .[7] On another corner of the square is a car lot, launched by Frank Butcher as Frank's Autos. It becomes Deals on Wheels when David Wicks (Michael French) works there, and when Max Branning (Jake Wood) takes over, it becomes Branning & Son, and then Branning Brothers. David later goes into business with Max and changes the name back to Deals On Wheels.[7]

Bridge Street Café is currently named Cindy's, but originally it was Al's Café run by Ali (Nejdet Salih) and Sue Osman (Sandy Ratcliff) The Osmans also ran a taxicab firm, OzCabs from the café. When Ian buys it, he names it Kathy's, after his mother. At one point, the café is named Laura's when it is owned by Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), though Ian buys it back and changes the name back. The café undergoes a refurbishment in 2009 after it is destroyed by fire. Ian then runs it with his wife Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) until their divorce, when Jane becomes the sole owner, and Carol Jackson becomes the manager. Jane sells it to Phil, who buys it for his partner Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) calling it "Shirley's". Phil sells it back to Ian in 2012, who calls it "Mandy's", after his then fiancee Mandy Salter (Nicola Stapleton). Ian's daughter Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater) later renames it "Cindy's" in 2012 after her mother Cindy Beale after Ian's mental breakdown and subsequent disappearance. Lucy then becomes the owner of the café when she demands Ian sign the businesses over to her, fearing a repercussion. Ian later tricks Lucy into selling it back to him. In 2014, the cafe is once again refurbished.

In 2013, Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) goes into partnership with Ian Beale and together, they open a restaurant named Scarlett's (after Janine's daughter), at the location of Moon's Antique Emporium.[7] Following Janine's arrest, Jane Beale buys her share of the restaurant. After Jane buys Janine's share it's refurbished again and renamed Beale's.[7]

Another large business on Turpin Road is The Albert, an upmarket bar run by Sharon Rickman and her fiancé Phil Mitchell. The venue is originally The Dagmar, a pub to rival The Queen Victoria, but after being burnt down in 1988, Ian turns it into his first restautant, The Meal Machine. It later becomes a discount store, and was a beauty salon for many years, with several different names, owned variously by Chrissie Watts, Tanya Branning, Roxy Mitchell and Sadie Young.[7] The Albert is opened in 2014,[7] and Sharon employs several others to work there, includong Johnny Carter.

Other businesses here include McKlunky's Restaurant and Takeaway, a fast-food chicken restaurant[7] which employs Liam Butcher (James Forde); Hungry Hank, a restaurant; Ned's Computer Repairs; a tattoo parlour; On the Spot Cash, a pawnbroker; and a Polish delicatesen.[7] A discount store called In for a Penny currently occupies the shop that was first seen as the Post Office, run by Zainab Masood (Nina Wadia), and later became Gilly's Massage Parlour.[7] Turpin Road Pharmacy was previously Walford Videos, and then Mrs Patel's sari shop.[7] There is also a Cancer Support Trust charity shop, where Cora Cross worked before she was unfairly dismissed and returned to the laundrette.

The name Turpin Road was chosen after the show's creators read that the East End was the haunt of notorious highwaymen, such as Dick Turpin.[2]

Giuseppe's restaurant, run by Rosa di Marco, is originally on George Street. It later becomes the Argee Bhajee, an Indian restaurant, run by the Masood family after they buy it in 2010. It is run by Zainab Masood, along with her son Tamwar and her husband Masood (Nitin Ganatra). However, they lose the business to debt collectors due to unpaid bills. As of February 2015 the restaurant is still unoccupied.

Next to the station are the Brewery Apartments, described as "swanky flats".[7] There is also King George House, a bed and breakfast establishment on George Street where many characters have stayed.[7] The square's public toilets can also be found here. In 2014, Ronnie Mitchell runs over Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold) outside No. 89, causing Ronnie to have flashbacks to Danielle's death, which she witnessed and came soon after the revelation that Danielle was her secret daughter.

Turpin Way includes the local garage, Branning's Autos (informally known as The Arches) (previously Mitchell's Auto's), which is bought by the Mitchell brothers when they first arrive in Walford. Phil Mitchell continues to own the garage, and employs Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) and Ben Mitchell (Harry Reid). Believing Phil to be responsible for the death of Emma Summerhayes, Max Branning tricks Ben Mitchell into signing over The Arches to him, which he renames "Branning's Autos."

Victoria Square is home to a number of bedsits that are considered to be low-class. These are usually used when characters find themselves homeless. Ian Beale owns a property here that he lets out. Walford's police station is also found here, in close proximity to the square so residents have easy access to it when reporting a crime.

Walford Towers is a tower block of flats where various characters in EastEnders have lived over the years. Walford Towers can be seen from Albert Square (a real block of flats in Borehamwood called Canterbury House),[citation needed] though closer exterior shots of the building have used a variety of different towers through the years.[citation needed]

Spring Lane is a street close to Bridge Street. It is mainly mentioned in 2014, when the Walford council are considering closing Bridge Street market, and combining it with Spring Lane market. After the residents of Bridge Street begin a campaign against the council, they decide to combine Spring Lane market with Bridge Street market, infuriating Donna Yates, who is forced to move her trading to Spring Lane. Pam Coker moves her flower stall to Bridge Street Market also.

Walford's High Street is often mentioned by characters, who usually go there to buy items not available in the shops featured. The High Street was shown for the first time on 2 August 2013 with scenes featuring Whitney Dean and Kat Moon.[citation needed]

Daisy Lane is a pathway near to Walford police station, which was named after the daughter of Series Designer Steven Keogh.[2] It runs between 41 & 43 Albert Square, from Victoria Square to Albert Square.